A dad is taking on his 65th half marathon in two years in memory of a former work colleague.

Super-fit Neal Jeffs, who works at Avis Europe in Park Road, Bracknell, is running the Windsor Half Marathon to raise money for Thames Hospicecare.

The father of two from Forest Road in Ascot started his marathon running in Windsor in 1996 with an impressive time of one hour and 40 minutes.

He admits he’s a bit out of practice, but is hoping to raise as much money as possible for the hospice in London Road, Ascot, which serves Bracknell.

Neal, a chartered accountant, said: “We have been involved with the hospice for a few years now.

“We try to do our bit raising funds, helping the Dedworth distribution centre and taking part in events.”

The centre is a secondhand furniture outlet in Windsor which is run to support Thames Hospicecare.

“Last year I convinced 25 people from the office to run in the Thames Hospicecare Santa Dash dressed as Santa Claus.”

He said he would be running the race in memory of a former colleague Randal Tarn who was cared for by the hospice before dying of cancer last year.

He added: “Randal was much loved by many in the office – I’ll be completing the Windsor Half Marathon in his memory and be thinking of him every step of the way.”

Neal, a member of Bracknell Forest Running Club, admitted some of his colleagues at work think he is “nuts” for training every day whatever the weather, but said the race, on Sunday, September 26, would be a hard one.

He said: “It will be a tough race, it can be quite hot at that time of year and it is definitely not flat around Windsor Great Park.

“Nevertheless, running is a great release from the daily grind of office life and what better way to do it than in Her Majesty’s back garden whilst helping raise some much-needed funds for an exceptionally good cause.”